Biblical Separation and the Common Good
I want to briefly touch upon the reason why Christianity is SO DIVISIVE.
The Bible has strictly commanded believers to separate from the rest of the world! According to the Bible, people like us are unrighteous, like Belial, infidels, unworthy to make agreements with, Christians cannot have anything to do with unbelievers, unbelievers are unclean. If the Christian does these things then God will receive them and be a Father unto them.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?
15. And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK IN THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
17. WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, AND TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING; AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU,
18. AND WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, saith the Lord Almighty.
The Bible has polarized the world, above is the chapter and verse proof! This concept is viewed as both purifying and divisive within Christian circles (depends upon one’s views.) Thankfully many Christians disobey their revelation from “God” that instructs them how to live their lives.
Many unaware of what the Bible really teaches would be shocked to discover this attitude. The given verses should make it obvious why fundamentalists act the way that they do. Liberals and moderates usually disregard this principle. As long as this fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible survives, Christianity has declared an isolationist policy from anyone that isn’t a fundamentalist Christian. The divisiveness behind this type of thinking is rotten, that is why I will work to help rid the world of fundamentalism!
I had questioned this concept back in my school and ministry days for several reasons, one being the implementation of following the concept hinders or distracts attention away from the common good! Sure, those believers pressing this might be sincere with their attempts to live holy lives, but when people are so independent they often accomplish little! These folks step back and watch others work together for a common goal and complain and shame them for their lack of “Biblical separation”. In the plainest terms, they stoke their own egos by playing “holier than thou” and resent the thought of something good occurring because it wasn’t DONE THEIR WAY! If something cannot be done their way, they would rather not see it done at all! It is “Biblical” justification for sitting upon your rump in laziness or indifference!
The common good is hindered within religious circles due to Biblical ideology. It is the fundies vs. the liberals or moderates. The fundies are the ones against the common good while the liberals and moderates largely accomplish most of the good that Christianity accomplishes!
I might add that this concept isn’t restricted to the churches! Sure, in the secular world, we have no interest in following the Bible but we are reluctant to have any association with the common good if it involves any pretense of religion or working with the faithful in any way to accomplish the common good. I didn't say Christian good, I said common good (there is a difference.) You might say that secularists practice a lesser degree of separation absent of any supernatural sources.
There are plenty of obstacles in the path of conducting the common good, are you one of them?
Brian
Worley July 25 10, 2009 Ex-minister.org
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